Vtjlcanizer



J. W. BRUNDAGE April 25, 1933. WLCANIZER Re. 18,808

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed March 14, .1928

J. W. BRUNDAGE April 25, 1933. WNIZER Re, 18,808

2 Sheets-Shee 2 Original Filed March 14, 1928 Reissued Apr. 25, 1933UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JAMES WILLIAM BRUND'AGE, OF AKRON, OHIO,ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO

NATIONAL RUBBER MACHINERY COMPANY, OF AKRON, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIOVULCANIZER Original No. 1,832,856, dated November 24, 1931, Serial No.261,449, filed March 14, 1928. Application for reissue filed March 4,1932. Serial No. 596,880.

The invention relates to vulcanizing apparatus and it is particularlydirected to a vulcanizing unit especially adapted for vulcanizing rubberpneumatic tires and inner tubes therefor.

Several types of rubber inner tubes are manufactured, among which arethose formed and completely vulcanized upon straight mandrels; othersare formed and completely cured upon curved mandrels and still a thirdclass are known as molded tubes. One object of the present invention isto provide a vulcanizing unit that is especially adapted for quantityproduction of molded inner tubes.

Among the advantages derived from the present invention are the featuresof providing positive and accurate engagement of mating mold sections,the positive positioning of the valve stem, and ease of operation. Otheradvantages derived from the apparatus are exemplified in the requirementof a minimum amount of floor space, in comparison to the productivecapacity of the apparatus, in addition to the fact that the device is ofrelatively light weight and consequently may be rearranged with otherfactory units from time to time to secure efliciency in the progressiveproduction of the articles above designated.

The foregoing objects and advantages of the invention will becomeapparent from the following description thereof, considered inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, and as particularly pointedout in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view, partially in section, of avulcanizing unit constructed in accordance with the principles of myinvention; v

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the complete device, showing the uppermold member in the open position;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary, cross-sectional view of a portionof theapparatus shown in Figures 1 and 2, particularly illustrating means forsecuring a valve stem of an inner tube that is being manufactured infixed position; and

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of a pneumatically operated means foractuating one of the mold sections of the apparatus shown in theprevious figures.

In practicing my invention, a vulcanizing unit is provided by mounting aflexible, inflatable member upon a suitable base that is adapted tosupport a plurality of mating mold sections, the lower section of whichis adapted to be moved or forced by the inflat able member into closeengagement with the upper mold section, movement of such lower sectionbeing limited by members secured to the base. Means is provided formanually locking the mold sections together that is par-' ticularlyrapid in operation, because of re-' quiring a single rotative movementto effect a locking engagement of the interlocking members thereof. Theupper mold section is pivotally mounted for opening and closing the moldand such operation is accomplished by fluid controlled means that isadapted to effect a cushioning on the closing movement of the pivotedsection. All of the foregoing features combine to facilitate quick andefiective operation of the device as a unit, a minimum amount of manuallabor being required to effect the vulcanization of an inner tube. For abetter understanding of my invention, reference may now be had to theaccompanying drawings, in which is shown a vulcanizing unit comprising asuitable pedestal 10 upon which is secured an annular supporting memberor base 11 arranged at an angle to said pedestal for convenience ininserting and removing the work and for providing drainage of water ofcondensation from the lowest portions of the mold steam jackets. Thebase is provided with an annular channel 12 adapted to receive aflexible inflatable member 13 or annular, flat pressure bag, providedwith a conduit 14. A lower jacketed mold section 15 is movably mountedupon and mainly outside of or above the base member 11 and adapted to beforced into close engagement with its complemental mating jacketed moldsection 16 by inflation of the member 13, such movement of the section15 being guided at one periphery only, namely in this case the innerperiphery of said mold section, by means of the short cylindrical guideseen in Figure 1, whereby the cost of manufacture is reduced and anyliability to cramping of the mold section is practically eliminated. Thesteam-jacketed mold sections are completely demountable from the pressso that others of a difi'erent size may be substituted. For retainingthe low-er mold section against accidental displacement I show at thelower edge an overhanging angular bracket 17 secured to the supportingmember 11. It will be noted that the mold cavity is of smaller projectedarea than the pressure bag 13, which covers the inner and outerperipheral mold joints, so that the mold-closing pressure of said bag isdirectly transmitted to both of said joints. To prevent displacement orexcessive expansion of the member 13 in the event fluid is admitted tothe member when the mold sections 15 and 16 are not properly positioned,split stop rings 13 are provided in the channel 12 and spaced from themember a distance slightly greater than the clearance between thestationary and movable locking members comprising the mold locking meansin a manner later to be described. Interposed between the member 13 andthe mold member 15 are two an nular follower plates which not only actas filler plates of which the upper one serves as a press platen butalso as heat dissipating high temperatures from the mold member 15 tothe flexible member 13. Means is provided for locking the mating moldsections 15 and 16' together, which includes a shouldered shaft 18disposed in a central opening 19 in the member 11 and provided with ahead 20 having radiating arms or looking lugs 21 that are adapted toengage by rota- ,tive movement cooperating arms or locking lugs 22formed upona bracket member secured to the mold section 16 in anysuitable manner, for example, integrally cast thereto as indicated at24. r

The shaft 18 is manipulated by means of a handle 25 secured thereto andextended through an opening 26 in the pedestal 10 to aconvenientposition. A flexible pipe 27 connected to the conduit 14 is extendedthrough an opening 28 in the annular supporting member 11 and isconnected to a valve stem 29 of an inner tube 30, disposed within themold sections 15 and 16, whereby the inner tube maybe inflated to avulcanizing position. The valve stem is maintained in a fixed positionwithin a depression in the edge of the mold members by means of apin 31provided with a head 32 disposed in an opening 33 in the mold sectionsand urged outwardly into engagement with the valve stem by means of aspring 34, a drilled plug 35 being disposed in an enlarged portion ofthe opening 33 to limit outward movement of the pin 31. V

The upper mold section 16 is removably secured, by means of bolts, tothe member 23 which is pivotally mounted, to provide access to themolding cavity formed by the mating sections, by means of a plurality ofarms 36 formed upon the member 23 and pivotally secured, as indicated at37, to a plurality of bell-crank brackets 38 bolted or otherwisesecured, to the supporting member 11. Opening and closing movement ofthe mold section 16 is obtained by operation of a piston 39 mountedwithin a cylinder 40 that is pivotally secured to the brackets 38, thepiston being connected by a piston rod 41 to the arms 36. The upperportion of the cylinder is provided with passages 43 communicating withconduits 44 that are connected in any suitable manner to a suitablesource of compressed air or other suitable operating medium. Swingjoints 44' are provided in the air supply line to facilitate themovement of the cylinder during its operation. An opening is provided inthe bottom of the cylinder to receive a suitable conduit 42 which isconnected to one of the passages 43, see Figure 4. A bleeder valve 42 isalso provided in the bottom of the cylinder for a purpose to be laterdescribed. An additional outlet or bypass 45 is provided in the top ofthe cylinder that communicates with the conduit 44 shown at the right inFigure 4, and passage of air therethrough is regulated by means of athreaded constricting valve or plug 146 screwed intothe top of thecylinder.

t is preferable that the various conduits 27', 14 and 44 be connected tothe same source of air supply and should be controlled by a single valvethat may be manipulated to efiect closure of the'mating mold sectionsand thereafter to inflate the flexible member 13 and the tube 30 that isto be molded.

The upper and lower mold sections 15 and 16 are preferably cast withannular cavities or chambers 46 adjacent the inner molding surfacesthereof to permit of the circulation of a suitable curing medium, suchas steam, hot water or electricity, in a manner which is well-known tothe art.

To prevent accidental closing of the upper mold member 16, a springactuated latch 50 keyed or otherwise secured to a shaft 51 mounted insuitable bearings carried by the supporting member 11, is arranged toengage a lug 52 carried by the upper end of the piston rod 41 when thepiston 39 is at its lowermost position. Releasing means is providedwhich includes a handle 53 and a from the foregoing description.

The mold is opened by admitting compressed air through the right-handone of the conduits 44 in Figure 4 to force the piston 39 toward thebottom of its cylinder 40,

' ent that as the mold section 16 swings to its upper position thecylinder 40 is swung inwardly towards the base to permit of freemovement of-the piston 39 and consequently the connecting rod 40, thisbeing made possible by the pivotal mounting of the cylinder upon thebrackets 38.

The tube 30 is then partially inflated and disposed in the moldingcavity of the lower section 15 with its valvestem correctly positionedbetween the mold members, whereupon compressed air is admitted into thebottom of the cylinder 40 through the passage 42, and simultaneouslyexhausted from the upper end through the right-hand conduit 44 in Figure4, to force the piston 39 to its uppermost position, thereby causingengagement of the mating mold sections. It should be noted that theopening and closing movements of the upper mold section 16 may becushioned by suitable adjustment of the bleeder valve 42 and the plug46, causing the air confined Within the respective ends of the cylinder40 to be expelled at a suitable rate to accomplish such result, thepiston and cylinder being formed with dash-pot extensions at their upperends as shown in Figure 4 to cushion the closin movement.

Upon closure of the mating mold sections, the pin 31 firmly engages thevalve stem 29 of the tube to maintain it in fixed position. This featureinsures that the valve stem will not be displaced or forced into theuncured, or green rubber of the tube 30 when it is inflated tovulcanizing position. The handle 25 is then manipulated to rotate thehead 20 of the interlocking means whereby the mold sections are lockedtogether.

Air is next admitted through the conduits 14 and 27 to the inflatablemember 13 and the tube 30.

The inflatable member 13 is preferably formed of considerably lessvolume and of a considerably larger area than the tube 30, inconsequence whereof the mold sections are forced very firmly togetherbefore the tube is fully inflated, thereby preventing the inner tubestock from being forced between the mating edges of the mold membersbefore the mold mates are tightly closed and also throughout thevulcanizing period. The flexible inflatable member 13 moves the lowermold section 15 toward its complemental section to assure intimateengagement of the sections, thereby supplementing the action of thelocking member 20, which, in fact, need only to limit the outwardmovement of the upper section 16 in order to assure suitable positioningof the sections. Fluid pressure is maintained in the inflatable member13, as Well as in the tube 30, throughout the vulcanization period.

It will be noted that the pivotal bearing for the arms 36, at 37, is onewhich permits of a slight upward movement or adjustment of the uppermold section 16 when fluid pressure is admitted to the flexible memberor diaphragm 13. This allows a certain degree of freedom of movement oradjustment of the upper mold member so that a substantially perfectmeetin of the faces of the two mold sections may he obtained. Thiscapability of operation of the press or vulcanizer secures a very closefitting joint about the mold so that overflow is prevented to a de greeheretofore unattainable in vulcanizers of this general type. As shown inFigure 1 of the patent, a slight separation is obtainable between thepivot 37. and the surface which normally rests thereupon. Theindependent movement of the mold sections under the influence of theexpansion within the diaphragm will take up any wear in the parts of theapparatus and will give a final squeeze to the mold sections whichinsures absence of rind or overflow.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description that operation of thevulcanizing unit is obtained with very little expenditure of manualeffort, it being only necessary to operate the valves to admit air andsteam to the unit to effect accurate positioning of the parts andheating of the unit. Thelocking member is, of course, manuallymanipulated, but it is only necessary to give it a slight rotativemovement to insure satisfactory operation of the flexible, inflatablemember in effecting close engagement of themold sections. 1

The pneumatically operated member for actuating'the upper mold sectionneed not be of heavy construction, since it is not required to maintainengagement of the mold sections, but simply facilitates opening andclosing the mold. In fact, the entire vulcanizing unit need not beformed of heavy material because of the particular arrangement andoperation of the several parts.

Although I have shown and specifically described a vulcanizing unitembodying the principles of my invention, it is obvious that Variousmodifications may be made therein Without departing from the spirit orscope thereof, and I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shallbe imposed as are set forth in the accompanying claims.

,What I claim is:

1. A vulcanizer press comprising a base, annular fluid-pressure meansthereon, and a mold including a demountable annular section overlyingand operated by said fluidpressure means and guided on said base by oneperiphery only.

2. vulcanizer press comprising a base,

mountable annular mold, guided on said base 3. A vulcanizer presscomprising a base,

a fluid-actuated mold section mounted'thereon, a a-ting mold sectionhingedto open and close with respect to the fluid-actuated section whenthe later is retracted, and a fluid-pressure device for operating saidhinged section, having internal means for cushioning its closingmovement.

,A vulcanizer press comprising mating mold sections ,one of which ishinged to open and close with respect to the other, and a fluid-pressurepiston and cylinder connected 1, to operate saidhinged sectionand'ha'ving a dash-pot portion for'cushioning' its movement, and aconstricted by-p assoutlet leading from the da shpot cylinder portion.

tube vnlcanizer unit comprising a 1 1 base, a fluid-actuatedmoldsection' mounted thereon, a mating mold section mounted to open and,close with respect to said fluid.- actuated section, and a springprojected valve-stem gripper on said mating section and adapted to bepressed back and grip the valveby the projecting movement of saidfluidct at d e t n- 4 e Apparatus for vulcanizing inner tubes or thelike, said apparatus comprising comzii plemental mold sections, meansfor supporting one mold section in a fixed position againstmovement inone axial direction and against movement in transverse directionstherefrom, said mold section being freely movable in the otheraxialdirection, a" fixed pivot independent of the, mold sections,

means carrying the other mold section, and

normally supported on said fixed pivot, said supp ogrt n means and saidfixed pivotb'eing swung on said fixed pivot into a closed position inregistry with the first section when supported in said fixed position,said carrying means being free tomove off said fixed pivot, lockingmeans associated with the supporting means for engaging the swingingsection to hold it in registry with the first named section onsupporting means, and means for forcing the'fi rst named section and thefi swinging section off said supporting means (against said lockingmeans to squeeze the :mold sections together after the same are 91 8M vv v V a 7. Apparatus for vulcanizing inner tubes 5 or the like, saidapparatus comprisingco rn- V plementalmold sections, 'meansforsupporting one mold section in afixed position against movement in oneaxial direction and against movement-in transverse directions iiporting-means .and said fixed .pivotbeing 19- cated whereby the secondsection may be swung on said fixed pivot into a closed position inregistry With the first section when supported in said fixedposition,said'c arry ing means being free to move ofi said fixed pivot,locking means associated with the supportingmeans for engaging theswinging sec' Signed at Akron, in the county of Summit an d State ofthis 1st day of March,

1 932.. a JAMES WILLIAM BRUNDAGE.

located w ereby the second section may be I therefrom, said mold sectionbeing freely

